Aceh councillor killed by assailant
<p>Aceh councillor killed by assailant</p><p>Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh</p><p> An unidentified man in a "military-like" uniform killed an
Aceh provincial legislative councillor from the Crescent Star
Party (PBB) late Monday evening, adding to the number of
legislators who had been murdered in the past two years.</p><p>The councillor, Taslim A. Jalil, 40, was killed at his
residence in Meunasah village, Lhoknga regency, Aceh Besar, some
15 kilometers away from Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam provincial
capital of Banda Aceh.</p><p>According to Taslim's daughter, Lira, 16, an unidentified man
knocked at the door at around 11:30 p.m. Monday. The man, holding
a rifle, asked for a glass of water, saying that he was thirsty.</p><p>"My uncle gave him a glass of water while my father (Taslim)
stood near the door. It happened so quickly that as the man
finished drinking and said thanks for the water, he suddenly shot
my father. There were four shots, two missed and the remaining
two hit my father," Lira said.</p><p>After shooting Taslim, the man fled on a motorcycle which was
idling in front of the house, Lira said.</p><p>The shooting caused panic among the villagers who then rushed
to the site of the incident, where Juned, 45, Taslim's cousin,
suddenly died, possibly of a heart attack, upon hearing of the
murder.</p><p>Taslim died of bullet wounds to his chest and arm, prior to
arrival at the Zainal Abidin Hospital in Banda Aceh. His body was
buried at a public cemetery in Lamlhon village later on Tuesday.</p><p>Following the killing of Taslim, local police precinct chief
Adj. Sr. Comr. Heru Budi Ersanto was quick to blame the
separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) for the killing, claiming
that the killer had purposely worn a military uniform, in order
to shift the blame to the Indonesian Military (TNI).</p><p>Similarly, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Saleh Saaf
said while quoting witnesses that two men in Army-like outfits
with rifles, who had gunned down Taslim, were allegedly GAM
members.</p><p>The allegation was denied by GAM spokesman for Aceh Besar
region Tengku Muksalmina, saying: "GAM would never kill an
Acehnese, especially Taslim, who was known here for his concern
for the people."</p><p>Muksalmina accused the TNI of being behind the shootings,
saying that TNI troops recently held sweeping operations in the
village, in search of GAM members.</p><p>Taslim was the 10th Acehnese figure to be killed in the
province in the past two years.</p><p>Assassinated Aceh politicians (Name, Position, Date of
Death): 1. Tengku Nashruddin Daud, PPP legislator, January
2000; 2. Jafar Siddiq Hamzah, New York-based IFA chief, 2000;
3. Tengku Ilyas Ibrahim, North Aceh PPP councillor, 2000; 4.
Safwan Idris, IAIN Ar-Raniry rector, 2000; 5. Muhammad Kamal,
Security Monitor, Feb. 30, 2001; 6. Sufrin Sulaiman, Lawyer,
Feb. 30, 2001; 7. Teuku Djohan, Fmr. Aceh vice governor, May
10, 2001; 8. Zaini Sulaiman, Aceh provincial legislator, Sept.
1, 2001; 9. Dayan Dawood, Syah Kuala Univ. rector, Sept. 9,
2001; 10. Taslim A. Jalil, Aceh provincial legislator, June 10,
2002.</p>
Aceh provincial legislative councillor from the Crescent Star
Party (PBB) late Monday evening, adding to the number of
legislators who had been murdered in the past two years.</p><p>The councillor, Taslim A. Jalil, 40, was killed at his
residence in Meunasah village, Lhoknga regency, Aceh Besar, some
15 kilometers away from Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam provincial
capital of Banda Aceh.</p><p>According to Taslim's daughter, Lira, 16, an unidentified man
knocked at the door at around 11:30 p.m. Monday. The man, holding
a rifle, asked for a glass of water, saying that he was thirsty.</p><p>"My uncle gave him a glass of water while my father (Taslim)
stood near the door. It happened so quickly that as the man
finished drinking and said thanks for the water, he suddenly shot
my father. There were four shots, two missed and the remaining
two hit my father," Lira said.</p><p>After shooting Taslim, the man fled on a motorcycle which was
idling in front of the house, Lira said.</p><p>The shooting caused panic among the villagers who then rushed
to the site of the incident, where Juned, 45, Taslim's cousin,
suddenly died, possibly of a heart attack, upon hearing of the
murder.</p><p>Taslim died of bullet wounds to his chest and arm, prior to
arrival at the Zainal Abidin Hospital in Banda Aceh. His body was
buried at a public cemetery in Lamlhon village later on Tuesday.</p><p>Following the killing of Taslim, local police precinct chief
Adj. Sr. Comr. Heru Budi Ersanto was quick to blame the
separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) for the killing, claiming
that the killer had purposely worn a military uniform, in order
to shift the blame to the Indonesian Military (TNI).</p><p>Similarly, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Saleh Saaf
said while quoting witnesses that two men in Army-like outfits
with rifles, who had gunned down Taslim, were allegedly GAM
members.</p><p>The allegation was denied by GAM spokesman for Aceh Besar
region Tengku Muksalmina, saying: "GAM would never kill an
Acehnese, especially Taslim, who was known here for his concern
for the people."</p><p>Muksalmina accused the TNI of being behind the shootings,
saying that TNI troops recently held sweeping operations in the
village, in search of GAM members.</p><p>Taslim was the 10th Acehnese figure to be killed in the
province in the past two years.</p><p>Assassinated Aceh politicians (Name, Position, Date of
Death): 1. Tengku Nashruddin Daud, PPP legislator, January
2000; 2. Jafar Siddiq Hamzah, New York-based IFA chief, 2000;
3. Tengku Ilyas Ibrahim, North Aceh PPP councillor, 2000; 4.
Safwan Idris, IAIN Ar-Raniry rector, 2000; 5. Muhammad Kamal,
Security Monitor, Feb. 30, 2001; 6. Sufrin Sulaiman, Lawyer,
Feb. 30, 2001; 7. Teuku Djohan, Fmr. Aceh vice governor, May
10, 2001; 8. Zaini Sulaiman, Aceh provincial legislator, Sept.
1, 2001; 9. Dayan Dawood, Syah Kuala Univ. rector, Sept. 9,
2001; 10. Taslim A. Jalil, Aceh provincial legislator, June 10,
2002.</p>